Animated illustration



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 30, 1945 INVENTOR. 1E1. MN K WEHI? arrow/5y.

Sept, 11, 1945 E R 2,384,661

ANIMATED ILLUSTRATION Filed May 30, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

[70L mm K WEHR BYWW ATTORMEy,

Patented Sept. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANIMATED ILLUSTRATION Julian R. Wehr, Roxbury, Vt. Application May an, 1945, Serial N0. 596,661

13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in animated illustrations.

More particularly the invention proposes a new and improved animated illustration characterized by a back sheet having its end portions passing through spaced openings in an illustrated front sheet by which the back sheet is longitudinally slidably guided, and an illustrated piece on the front sheet having rotative or pivotal members engaging a traction strip mounted on the front of the front sheet and extending'parallel to. the longitudinal axis of said back sheet.

The invention contemplates characterizing the traction strip mentioned in the previous paragraph by the fact that it comprises a strip of paper having several prong-like portions along its bottom side engaging into complementary slits formed in said illustrated front sheet. It is proposed that the illustrated piece with the rotative or pivotal members be in the nature of an automobile, or other object, or animal having rotative wheels or merely pivotally mounted members. In the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed in this specification, the illustrated piece is in the nature of an automobileand a bear pushing it. The rotative or pivotal parts, comprise wheels of the automobile or pivotal parts of the body of the bear.

The invention furthermore proposes a simple and novel way to connect the back sheet with the illustrated piece which has the rotative or pivotal members.

A novel way is also proposed .for guiding the illustrated piece to move parallel with the longitudinal axis of the back sheet.

The. invention furthermore contemplates the provision of additional illustrated pieces disposed upon the front of the front sheet and connected indirectly with the back sheet so as to move when the back sheet is moved;

Stillfurther the invention contemplates the construction of an animated illustration, as briefly explained, which may be cheaply manufactured so that it may be used as the page of an animated book.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the page of a book constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of Fig. 1 illustrated with the parts in a different positionr Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of one ofthe illustrated pieces used in the animated illustration.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view takenon the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. r

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary back view of the piece shown in Fig. 4, this view being as though looking in the direction of the line 6-6 of'Fig. 5.

Fg. 7 is an elevational view of another one of the illustrated pieces, used in the animated illustration.

Fig. 8 is an strip. i

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of one of the rotative members of the animation.

Fig. 10 is an elevational View of the back sheet.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of another one of the illustrated pieces used in the animated illustration.

The new animated illustration in-accordance with this invention includes an illustrated front sheet l2 having a pair of spaced openings l4 and l 5. A back sheet I6 is disposed upon tlie back of the front sheet 12 and has end portions I1 and I8 passing through said spaced openings l4 and I5 and overlying. on said front sheet l2. The spaced openings I4 and I5 are in the nature of slits formed in the front sheet.l2. These slits are slightly wider than the widths of those portions of the back sheet I6 which pass through said slits l4 and D5. The parts are so arranged that the slits l4 and l 5 will guide the back sheet IE to move in a longitudinal direction.

A traction strip 20 is mounted upon the front of the front sheet l2 and extends parallel-to the back sheet l6. This traction strip 20 has a plurality of prong-like portions 2| projecting from its bottom edge which engage through complementary spaced slits 22 formed in the front sheet l2. In Fig. 1 a portion of the traction strip 20 has been broken away so that the slits 22 may be clearly seen. One end of the traction strip 20 is formed with a notch 23 and the other end is formed with a short slit 24 by which the traction strip 20 may be securely held in the slits 22, by moving it slightly laterally after it is engaged in position. When this is done, the notch portion 23 will engage the end of one of the slits 22 while the slit 24 will lock with the end of another one of the slits 22.

An illustrated piece 26 is disposed upon the elevational view of the traction front of said front sheet l2 and is provided with formed in the illustrated front sheet [2. The back sheet l6 may be moved to the left to display the figure 32 through the window 34 and may be moved to the right to display the figure '33 through the window 35. The distance that the backsheet I6 is capable of being moved is limited by slits 31 which are formed in the front sheet I2 and which are engaged by projecting portions 38 formed on the illustrated piece 2.6. These projecting portions 38'have slits which extend down to the points 39, see Fig. 4, which holds the. illustrated piece 26 in a down position, as well as guiding the piece to move longitudinal. The back sheet I6 is also formed with an enlarged central portion having shoulders 39 and 40 which are larger than the openings and i 4 and which also serve to limit the possible movement of the back sheet l6.

The illustrated piece 26 is formed with a pair of small holes 4! used to rotatively support the wheels 21. The wheels 21 have segment-like lug portions 42 out near their centers which are connected through the holes 4H and which serve to support the Wheels 21. The member 28 has. an opening 44 which is engaged by a headed. lug 55 on the illustrated piece 26 by which the member 28 is pivotally mounted. The bottom portion of the member 28 is engaged in back of the traction strip which will cause the member 28 to pivot, or rock when the illustrated piece 26 is moved forwards or rearwards.

Another illustrated piece 48, in the nature of a passenger in the automobile 26, is provided with a stem portion 49 which engages through an opening 58 formed in the illustrated piece 26. This stem portion 49 has an enlargement 5| immediately below the opening 50 which serves to pivotally support the illustrated piece 48 on the illustrated piece 26. The stem portion 49 engages into an elongated slot 52 formed in the front sheet 12, the ends of which will pivot the stem portion 49 when the animation is worked so as. to give movement to the illustrated piece 48 The illustrated front sheet !2 is bent at the cen ter 53 so that there is a back section 54 which I extends across and covers the various parts upon the back of the front sheeti2.

The animated illustration works as follows:

The end portion H. of the back sheet I 6 may be used as a tab to be gripped for operating the animation- The end portion I! is merely moved towards the right and towards the left. When it is at the extreme left the parts will be as illustrated in Fig. 1. When it is moved towards the right, the traction strip 2!] will cause the wheels 21' to turn and will cause the illustrated piece 28 to' pivot on the headed lug 45. The stem portion 49 will strike the ends of the slot 52 in the front sheet l2 and will cause the illustrated'piece 48 to pivot forwards and rearwards on the headed ing 45. The figures 32 and 33 will be seen from the openings, or windows 34 and as the back sheet I6 is moved from one of its extreme positions to the other extreme position. The bottom portions of the wheels 21 are jammed in close to slits 22 and the lugs 2| which exerts frictional resistance between these parts to cause the wheels 21 to turn as the illustrated piece 26 is moved. The back sheet [6 is connected with the illustrated piece 26 by the slit 29 of the back piece Hi engaging the slit 30 of the illustrated piece 26.

While: I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlying end portions.

2. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through saidspaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlying end portions, said traction strip being provided with prong-like portions upon its bottom edge engaging through complementary slits formed in said front sheet. I

3. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the'front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlying end portions, said traction strip being provided with pronglike portions upon its bottom edge engaging through complementary slits formed in said front sheet, said traction strip having a notch at one portion engaging with one of the ends of one of said slits.

4. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlying end portions, said traction strip being provided with prong-like portions upon its bottom edge engaging through complementary slits formed in said front sheet, said. traction strip having a notch at one portion engaging with one of the ends of one of said slits, said traction strip having slits engaging with one of the ends of another one of said slits.

5. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal mem bers engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlying end portions, the projecting end portion of said back sheet which is connected with said illustrated piece being formed with a slit engaging a complementary slit in the illustrated piece.

6. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlying end portions, said illustrated piece being provided with projecting portion engaging through a longitudinal extending slit formed in said front sheet.

7. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlying end portions, said illustration piece being provided with projecting portion engaging through a longitudinal extending slit formed in said front sheet,

' said projecting portions having slits for limiting upward motion of said illustrated piece.

8. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlying end portions, at least one of said rotative members comprising a member having a segmental-like lug portion engaging through a hole in said illustrated piece by which it is rotatively supported.

9. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings, and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending 'parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlaying end portions at least one of said pivotal members comprising a member having an opening engaged by a headed lug from said illustrated piece by which the member is pivotally supported.

10. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings, and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlaying end portions at least one of said pivotalmembers comprising a member having an opening engaged by a headed lug from said illustrated piece by which the member is pivotally supported, and the bottom of said pivotally supported member being engaged in back of said traction strip which will cause the member to pivot as the illustrated piece is moved.

11. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings, and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlaying end portions, and another illustrated piece pivotally mounted on said illustrated piece and having a stem por tion engaging a slot formed in said front sheet by which the last named illustrated piece is caused to pivot as said first named illustrated piece is moved.

12. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlaying end portions, and said back sheet being provided with figures which may be selectively viewed through openings formed in said front sheet when the back sheet is moved to difierent positions.

13. In an animated illustration, an illustrated front sheet having a pair of spaced openings, a back sheet having its end portions passing through said spaced openings and overlying said front sheet for moving longitudinally, a traction strip mounted on the front of said front sheet and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said back sheet, and an illustrated piece on said front sheet and having rotative or pivotal members engaging said traction strip and being connected with one of said overlying end portions, said back sheet being provided with an enlarged portion having shoulders wider than said spaced openings for limiting the possible movement of said back sheet.

JULIAN R. WEI-IR. 

